Keep SimplifyingTable of Contents

Keep Simplifying >

Contents of this ebook--all section headers, case studies, tactics, tips, and notes

PREFACE: This ebook is my Walden

NOTE: This ebook is biased

NOTE: This ebook is not professional advice

SEARCH: Search this ebook

You can simplify your life

Is your life too complex?

CASE STUDY: Kyle is a single father raising his 4-year-old daughter, Nicole.

CASE STUDY: Maggie's employer forced her to retire early.

CASE STUDY: Kevin gets up on Saturday, reads the newspaper and has coffee.

CASE STUDY: Denielle is a graduate student at a State University.

Use this ebook to simplify your life

This ebook is for anyone who wants a simpler life

Look for tactics in this ebook

Look for the case studies in this ebook

Look for tips in this ebook

Get started

Rule your stuff

Don't keep what you don't need

Purge your stuff

TACTIC: Reduce the amount of stuff you have by examining each item you own and asking yourself if you really need it.

CASE STUDY: Kevin does the clutter triage on the stuff under his bed.

TIP: When purging a group of items you may find it helpful to get three boxes or bags and label them GARBAGE, GIVE AWAY, and SELL.

Dejunk your home

CASE STUDY: Denielle looks through her possessions in her small bedroom.

TIP: You can live without a dresser, armoire, freestanding closet, or wardrobe.

TIP: A college student should travel light.

TACTIC: Cut through your clutter by regularly performing the clutter triage on one small area of your home at a time.

TACTIC: Consider disposing of extra versions of items that you can only wear one at a time.

TACTIC: Check through your home and dispose of items you tend to accumulate, but can always get more.

TACTIC: Pay particular attention to getting rid of items that are useful, but not in the quantity you may have accumulated.

TACTIC: Rethink your choice of owning structures that hold items; for example: shelves, dressers, or free-standing wardrobes or storage units.

TACTIC: Get rid of all television sets you own.

Eliminate big items

TACTIC: If you rent storage space because you can't fit all your stuff in your home, this is God's way of telling you that you have too much stuff.

TACTIC: Get rid of unused major appliances, furniture, and vehicles as soon as possible.

TACTIC: Question the need to have a car.

TACTIC: Reconsider the need for a vacation home or property.

TACTIC: Ask yourself if you really need sport boats, vehicles, and other large pieces of equipment.

Stop incoming junk

Stop Junk mail and Telemarketer Calls

TACTIC: Send your name and address to a mail preference service to get yourself off many postal mailing lists.

TACTIC: Whenever you receive an unsolicited sales call via telephone, be prepared to interrupt the caller and asked to be placed on their DO NOT CALL list.

TACTIC: Register with a telephone preference service to be removed from many telemarketer's databases.

TACTIC: : Place a neatly lettered NO SOLICITING and NO HANDBILLS sign near your front door where a door-to-door salesperson will see it.

TACTIC: For all credit cards, member organizations, or even service companies such as banks, phone companies, or energy untilities you use, request to be placed on a DO NOT CALL list for no phone solicitation.

TACTIC: Avoid entering contests or drawings where you supply your name and address.

TACTIC: If you receive electronic mail, use email reading software that can filter your incoming mail into folders.

Manage the incoming flow

TACTIC: Reconsider all subscriptions to newspapers, magazines, and newsletters that you have.

TACTIC: End membership in any club or organization that you have not participated in during the past six months.

TACTIC: Cancel all but one or two credit cards.

TACTIC: Request to be removed from catalog mailing lists.

TACTIC: Make it a habit to sort your incoming postal mail immediately.

TACTIC: Have a routine for getting rid of incoming peridocials.

TACTIC: Resist impulse buys.

TACTIC: Donate gifts you receive but do not want.

TACTIC: Avoid shopping as recreation or therapy.

Take an inventory of everything you own

TACTIC: Make an inventory of everything you own.

TACTIC: Use the stuff inventory process to identify items you don't want or need.

TACTIC: The stuff inventory is an important record that you should store carefully in a safe deposit box or with a trusted friend.

Organize Your Stuff

TIP: Plastic storage crates substitute for dressers.

TACTIC: Organize your stuff by function within the space you have in your home.

TACTIC: Use bags, boxes, or containers to place like items together.

TACTIC: Avoid storing things in hard-to-access places.

TACTIC: Be willing to have empty areas in your home.

Protect your stuff

TIP: Campus theft can be tragic.

TACTIC: Stay alert to avoid being a victim of theft.

TACTIC: Rent a safe deposit box.

TACTIC: Take out home owners or renter's insurance.

TACTIC: Inform yourself of and follow the proper use guidelines of each item you have.

TACTIC: Backup key electronic information and data.

TACTIC: Copy or digitize important documents and photos of

Buy Wisely

TIP: Buy cheap, competent computers.

TIP: Renewable batteries are a good value.

TIP: New hires should travel light.

TACTIC: Avail yourself of consumer information when making buying decisions.

TACTIC: When you buy electronics, computer supplies, or any technological item, look for standard, stable, and competent technology that is as simple as possible.

TACTIC: Buy miniature or travel versions of items.

TACTIC: Buy compatible items in terms of style, color, and parts.

Optimize your place

Love Your City

Choose your region

TIP: Think outside the box.

CASE STUDY: Maggie and George have always wanted to live somewhere else.

TACTIC: Make a list of regions of the country or the world where you've dreamed of living.

TACTIC: Get more information about the regions on your dream list.

TACTIC: After gathering information about the regions on your dream list, travel to those places if possible.

Choose Your City

TIP: New Urbanism suggests a compact urban form.

TIP: Love your city.

CASE STUDY: Kevin realizes that his dream of snowboarding isn't going to fly where he presently lives.

TACTIC: List the potential cities where you'd like to live in your region.

TACTIC: Stay at least a week in a city where you consider moving.

TACTIC: After gathering information and some visits, list the pros and cons of living in the cities on your list.

TACTIC: After careful consideration, choose your dream city finalist.

TACTIC: Establish resources before moving to a new city.

Choose your quarter

TIP: The shortest distance in a city is not necessarily a straight line.

TACTIC: Think about why you want to live in a city and list the areas of the city that relate to those reasons.

TACTIC: Visit potential quarters of your dream city that you have identified as close to your areas of interest.

TACTIC: Make a final choice of a quarter to live in after synthesizing all your information and impressions.

Choose Your Neighborhood

TACTIC: List what you want to have in the nearby environment of your neighborhood.

TACTIC: Look for neighborhoods that are walkable.

TACTIC: Look for neighborhoods that offer access to stores and services that meet many of your routine needs.

Have the Right Home

Choose Your Home

TIP: There is no such thing as owning "rent free."

Consider the costs of buying a home

TACTIC: If you want to simplify your life, consider not owning a home.

Rent a home

CASE STUDY: Kevin gets a small apartment at a ski resort.

TIP: The studio apartment is a good value.

TIP: Free housing and get paid to sleep.

TACTIC: Make a list of potential rental properties by using newspaper classified ads, Internet rental sites, or even a walk through the neighborhood looking for signs.

TACTIC: As you consider rental properties, look first for these fundamentals: safe, clean, pleasing

TACTIC: If a property is fundamentally safe, clean, and pleasing to you, take the time to go through a detailed checklist.

TACTIC: Consider renting the smallest apartment you can.

TACTIC: Make your final choice in your apartment and neighborhood by taking all the information you've gathered into account, but choose what you genuinely want--trust your "gut feeling."

TACTIC: See if you can find living arrangements for low or no cost in exchange for your work or time.

Set up your home

CASE STUDY: Denielle photocopies a map of the city where she lives.

TACTIC: Be spare and frugal in furnishing your home.

TACTIC: Take security precautions in your home.

TACTIC: Renting a post office box or a commercial mail and package service for yourself can aid in your security, stability, and convenience.

TACTIC: Plan the layout for your apartment based on the function of spaces.

Hone Your Routine

Establish sustainable habits

Take care of your time

TIP: I have a shopping day.

TIP: There are many alternatives to television.

CASE STUDY: Kyle works at a major aerospace company as an engineer.

TACTIC: Take a time inventory.

TACTIC: Arrange your work hours so that you start earlier, avoid the commuting crowds, and give yourself more daylight hours off work.

TACTIC: Anticipate and avoid peak use time for stores, streets, restaurants, services, and offices.

TACTIC: Establish a regular, weekly shopping and errand day.

TACTIC: Eliminate any time committments that don't matter to you.

TACTIC: Practice saying, "no," so that this word is on your lips when asked to make a committment you are not willing to accept.

TACTIC: Use a paper or computer-based organizer to write down your schedule and names and phone numbers.

TACTIC: Stop watching tv.

TACTIC: Don't allow yourself to be late for appointments or deadlines, except for emergencies.

TACTIC: Mine scraps of time.

TACTIC: Schedule genuine downtime and fun time.

Be instantaneously productive

CASE STUDY: Kevin wants to try his hobby of photography, but his equipment is stored in different places in his apartment.

TACTIC: Break down your projects into chunks and then to specific tasks, and then work on the tasks regularly.

TACTIC: Prepare in advance the time, tools, training, and information you need to work on your project tasks.

TACTIC: Work on project tasks in scheduled time blocks.

Take Care of Yourself

TACTIC: See a qualified health professional about an exercise, dental hygeine, and nutrition program that you can sustain.

TACTIC: Seek professional help for depression or mental distress.

TACTIC: Quit smoking and the misuse of alcohol or drugs.

TACTIC: Keep to a fixed sleep pattern by waking up at the same time each day.

TACTIC: Tell the truth.

Take care of your money

TIP: Joe's grocery shopping tips save money.

TIP: Do I have to be a cheapskate?

TACTIC: Save up to hundreds of dollars per month by not having a car.

TACTIC: Make and pack your own lunch when going to work or school.

TACTIC: Get rid of "luxuries" you don't need.

TACTIC: Use automatic deposit of your paychecks and automatic withdrawal of routine bills from your checking account.

TACTIC: Make and keep a budget.

TACTIC: Establish low cost suppliers for routine services and products.

TACTIC: Use services provided by training schools to reduce your costs.

Take care of your information

TACTIC: Completely inventory and securely store the most sensitive information about your personal identity and finances that, if stolen or lost, would pose very great risk to you.

TACTIC: Completely inventory and protect sensitive financial and personal documents that, if lost, would pose risk to you.

TACTIC: Protect confidential information about your life or finances that if lost or stolen would pose some risk to you.

TACTIC: Backup your paper or computer files regularly.

Be prepared for urban and travel situations

TIP: I carry an "urban kit"

TACTIC: Prepare and carry an urban kit that contains essential supplies for going around town or traveling.

TACTIC: Don't give money to or accept anything from strangers.

TACTIC: As you travel around town or around the world, remember, "A good soldier never gets separated from his [or her] gear."

Be prepared for emergency situations

TACTIC: Learn and respect every safety precaution for your activities in sports, work, home, or hobbies.

TACTIC: Prepare a basic first aid kit and get first aid training.

TACTIC: Prepare a basic home survival kit to contain supplies and 72 hours of food and water.

Live Your Dream

State your dream

Find Your Dream

CASE STUDY: Kyle isn't satisfied with his job as an engineer.

TACTIC: Brainstorm your dream by quickly answering hypothetical questions and examining the pattern they reveal.

TACTIC: Generate dream ideas by looking at your priorities and past.

Express Your Dream

TACTIC: Take time to contemplate your dream and then state it simply and honestly.

TACTIC: Tell your dream to others.

Support your dream

Set aside time

TACTIC: Schedule time to think about your dream, set long-term and short-term goals, and plan tasks.

Gather resources

CASE STUDY: Denielle is happy with her life as a graduate student, but she wonders what "the real world" is going to be like.

TACTIC: Gather information that will support your dream.

Unleash Your Dream

Gain Your Dream's Benefits

TACTIC: Find a way to immediately implement some aspects of your dream.

Be Ready for Your Break

TACTIC: Be alert and ready for opportunities.

CASE STUDY: Kevin loves persuing his love of snowboarding in Colorado

CASE STUDY: Maggie and George spend some time discussing their lifestyle and goals.

Tap into resources

Participate in Support Networks

TACTIC: Participating in support, barter, trade, or exchange networks may be a good way to meet some of your needs efficiently.

Examine Your Needs and Define Your Networks

TACTIC: Establish a support network of friends, colleagues, and professionals who can exchange services with you.

TACTIC: Develop a network of trusted, nearby people who can take care of your home, pet, or plants when you are away.

Develop information networks

CASE STUDY: Kevin has a hard time finding the right equipment and supplies for his photography hobby.

TIP: A business card helps networking.

TACTIC: Use your personal network of friends, colleagues, and acquaintances to help you to find contacts, get ideas, and refer you to other people.

TACTIC: Use your public library to access a treasure-house of information and knowledge.

Use Internet information and communication

Gain access to the Internet and Web

TACTIC: You can access the Internet in a variety of public places.

TACTIC: You can get a Web-based electronic mail account to send and receive email.

Consider very carefully if you need to own a computer

TACTIC: If you buy a computer, go for simplicity that meets your needs.

TIP: A laptop computer gives you flexibility.

Choose a stable Internet service provider

TACTIC: If you get an Internet account, use a quality service, and consider a permanent email address.

TACTIC: If you want your own Web site for business purposes, get your own domain name.

Use Internet Resources Wisely

CASE STUDY: Denielle has been having a hard time getting organized for her second year as resident assistant at her college.

TACTIC: Know the nature of Internet information and the major keyword and subject searching methods on the Web.

TACTIC: Establish a routine of communication and monitoring information.

Make your simple logbook

TACTIC: Prepare a notebook to record your notes, plans, thoughts, ideas to simplify your life.

Use this Web site

TACTIC: You can ask me questions about this ebook.

TACTIC: You can send your own suggestions or comments about how to simplify your life.

TACTIC: Access a variety of Web sites to get ideas to simplify your life.

TACTIC: Access a variety of books to get ideas to simplify your life.

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2023-06-19 · John December · Terms © johndecember.com